Support foe milking machines



Aug. 24, 1943.

H. B. BABSON ETAL SUPPORT FOR MLKING MACHINES Original Filed Oct. 8,1934 2 SheetsfSheet 1 Aug. 24, 1943.

H. B. BASSON EI' AL `SUPPORT FOR MILKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Oct. 8, 1934 Ramadan. 24, 1943 22,368 SUPPORT FORMILK'ING MACHINES\` Henry B. Babson, Chicago, and Jacob J. Stamp$\Bollywood, lll., asaignors to Babson Bros. Co., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Original No. 2,133,228, dated November 8, 1938,y

Serial No. 747,321, October 8, 1934.

Application i'or reissue June 5, 1943, Serial No. 489,804

' 9 0mm. (CL 31..-58)

Our invention relates in general to the milking of cows in sanitaryfashion and has more particular reference to a support for milkingapparatus.

An important object is to provide a. milking cage having improved meansfor supporting a mechanical milking apparatus in adjusted position withrespect to an animal in the cage; a further object is to form the cageto facilitate adjustment of the milking apparatus on an animal therein.

Another important object is to provide milking stalls having anadjustable support comprising a support mounted on a side of the stallin position to swing beneath an animal in the cage, adjustablelongitudinally o1' the stall, and adapted to support milking apparatusin adjusted position with respect to an animal in the stall, saidsupport being adapted to swing the milking apparatus out of the stall.after the milking operation is completed, to permit unobstructed exito1' the animal from the cage; a further object being to yieldingly biasthe support to normally urge the apparatus away from the udder andtoward the head of the animal during milking, including means to adjustthe force of such bias.

Another object is to provide an adjustable support for milkingapparatus, which support is adjustable horizontally and vertically withrespect to an animal to be milked; and a further object is to afford aresilient and yielding support for milking apparatus beneath an animalybeing milked.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent'from the following description, which, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, discloses a. preferred embodiment; of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a milking cage provided witha support embodying our present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view and Figure 3 a front view of adjustable supportmeans for milking apparatus which may be used in conjunction with ourimproved milking cage shown in Figure 1; and

.Figures 4, and 6, respectively, are sectional views taken substantiallyalong the lines 4-4 in Figure 2. 5--5 in Figure 4, and 6-6 in Figure 3.

To illustrate our invention we have shown on the drawings a milking cageor stall 33 of preferably rectangular arrangement, The stall may beformed of any suitable material and in any desired fashion. However. weprefer to construct Vand 4|.

the same of vmetal pipes. 'To this end, the stall 33'may comprise fourcorner uprights 35, 31, 33 The stall preferably comprises spaced apartside walls between which an animal to be milked may be trapped. To thisend the stall has an entrance opening preferably arranged at one end ofthe stall as between the uprights 35 and 4|, an entrance gate 49 beingprovided at said entrance opening. The gate 49 may comprise a pipe bentto provide parallel arms, the ends of which, as shown in the illustratedembodiment, may be hinged to the upright 4|, vertical rods |09 beingarranged between and connected to the arms of said pipe. The end of thestall opposite the entrance opening is preferably closed by a wallformed in the illustrated embodiment by the horizontal rails 5| and 53between the uprights 31 and 39, vertical rods |09 being arranged be-4tween the rails 5| and 53.

Stanchion means may also be provided in the stall adjacent the endthereof opposite from the entrance opening. In the illustratedembodiment the Stanchion comprises a vertical, xed post I I supported byconnecting pipes H5 from an upright 11 forming a part of the side wallbetween the uprights 35 and 39. The stanchion also comprises a movablepost H3 which is supported by means of the pipes H1 on a shftable frame63, which frame preferably comprises a bent pipe forming spaced arms,the ends of which are connected on an-upright 59 forming a part Aoi? theside wall of the stall between the uprights 31 and 4I. Vertical rodsl|09 may be arranged between the spaced arms of the frame v63. Theirame63 is preferably arranged to swing about the axis of the upright 59 andextends between said upright and the Vcorner post 31, thereby forming agate normally closing the space'between the uprights 31 and 59, whichopening affords an outlet through which an animal may exit from thestall. In addition to forming an exit gate, the frame 63 also supportsthe movable Stanchion elementv H3 so that when closed the neck of ananimal in the stall may be received and trapped between the stationaryand movable Stanchion elements |H and H3. Rails 1| and 13 are arrangedbetween the uprights 4| and 59 to close the space therebetween and, ifdesired, vertical rods |09 may be arranged between the rails. Suitablemeans is preferably provided for holding the gates 49.and 63 in closedposition when an lanimal is in the stall.

The tops of the posts 35, 39 and 11 are interconnected by a rail 41,while the tops of the posts 31,k 4| and 69 likewise are interconnectedby means of a rail 4l. Rails 8| and 83 are arranged between the uprights39 and 11 to close the intervening space, rods |09 being arrangedbetween said rails, and the space between uprights 35 and 11 is closedby members 9| and |0| which are connected each at one end upon the rail41 substantially midway between the uprights 85 and 11, the other endsof the members 9| and 9|0| being connected, respectively, `to theuprights 35 and 11. Rails 91 and |01 extend, respectively, between thecentral portions of the members 9| and |01 and the uprights 11 and 35.Rods |09 may be mounted between the rails 91 and |01 and the lowerportions of the members 9| and |0| to close the intervening'spaces. Theupper ends of the posts 31 and 39 are also connectedv by the rail 45,while the posts 35 and 4| are likewise interconnected and braced by therail 46; The post 11 in like fashion is interconnected and braced uponthe rail 48 bythe cross bar 85.

The milking cage 33 is adapted to permit an animal enclosed in the cageto be milked by any preferred milking method, although the cage isparticularly well adapted for usewhere milking is accomplished bymechanical means. The horizontal portions of the members 9| and |0| aredeformed at |59 to provide a space or opening substantially opposite theudder of the animal in the cage so that milking may, if desired, beaccomplished by hand. The cage, however, is well adapted to facilitatethe use of mechanical milking apparatus. which may be supported from thecage itself. To this end, we provide an adjustable mechanism forcarrying the milking apparatus and have shown a preferred form of theadjustable support mechanism, in mounted position, in Figure 1 and, indetail, in Figures 2 through 6.

The support mechanism is carried on a preferably stationary mounting atthe milking station, and, as shown in the drawings, the animalstanchioning means `or cage 33 may serve as the stationary mounting forthe support mechanism. The support. mechanism aiords means for ad'-justing the position of the milking apparatus, carried-thereby, withrespect tothe caged animal being milked so that the apparatus may bepositioned to accommodate the physical characteristics of each animal asit enters the cage to be milked. Among cows. comprising a herd, there isconsiderable individual variation in the distance from shoulder to udderand in the elevation of the udder above the floor level. 'I'he supportdevice of our present invention permits the mechanism to be quickly andeasily adjusted 1ongitudinally of the animal to a position opposite theudder and also permits the rapid adiustment of the apparatus verticallyto the correct milking position under the udder. The support furtherpermits 'yielding movement of the supported apparatus sufficiently topermit the same to follow the limited movement of the animal permittedwithin the cage. The support further suspends the milking apparatusresiliently under the udder of the animal.

The support mechanism comprises a frame i6 I which is mounted at itsupper and lower ends for sliding movement on guide rails iliiv and |65,which, in turn, are supported on the cage, the

upper rail |63 being attached at its opposite ends to the members 91 and|01 and the lower rail |65 being connected at its opposite ends with themembers 9| and The frame |6| may thus be adjusted longitudinally of thecage. The frame |6| yprovides a guide channel for a rack bar |61 movablein the frame in a vertical direction. The frame also provides a journalhaving a shaft |69 carrying a pinion |1| in position to drivingly engagethe rack bar. The shaft |69 is provided with a crank |13 having a handle|15 by which the same may be rotated by an attendant stationed on thefloor 23 in order to turn the shaft and pinion |1| and h ence raise orlower the rack bar in the frame. The handle |15 is arranged to control aspring pressed detent |1.1 normally carried in position to engage stops|19, arranged circularly on a dial plate |8| carried on the frame IBI,to provide for locking the rack bar at a desired elevation in the frame.When retracted, by means of the handle |15, the detent |11 will clearthe stops |19, thus permitting the crank |13 to be turned to adjust theelevation of the rack bar. The lower end of the rack bar is formed as aspindle |82 carrying an arm |84 in position to swing within the cage inposition to support a mechanical milker in milking position beneath ananimal entrapped in the cage. The arm |84 is preferably of resilientconstruction comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, a relativelyflexible member mounted at one end in a sleeve |83 journalled on thespindle at the lower end of the rack bar |61. The other end of theflexible support member is formed with a hook |85, on which the milkingapparatus may readily be suspended. The flexible support member |34 maybe braced by an arm |86 which is fastened at one end on the sleeve |83,the other end of said bracing arm |86 underlying the member |84 at apoint spaced, from the anchored end thereof. Spring means |81 is alsopreferably provided to yieldingly bias the support means in a desireddirection. As may be best seen in Figures Zand 6, a collar |89 isrotatably mounted on the spindle |82 and adapted to be secured in adesired adjusted position by means of the thumb nut |9I; and the spring|81 has its central portion encircling the spindle, one end engaging thecollar |69, and the other end lying `behind the support arm |84 toyieldingly bias theouter end thereof toward the forward or stanchion endof the stall with a force regulated by the angular position to which thecollar is adjusted. Since suspended milkers are supported slightly below'and to the front of a cows udder during milking, the forward bias ofthe spring and the downward force of the weight of the milker (and itscontents, as milking progresses) operate on the resilient arm |84 toprovide a yielding downward and forward pull on the udder duringmilking.

It will be apparent that the hooked end of the exible milking` machinesupport |84 may be positioned at a. desired elevation by adjusting therack bar |61 by means of the crank |13 and also may be adjustedlongitudinally of the cage, to accommodate the size and shape-of theanimal to be milked, merely by sliding the frame |6| on the rods |63 and|65.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendantadvantages and inherent functions will be understood from the foregoingdescription and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in theform, construction, and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of our invention, or sacrificing anyof its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a,preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, resilient suspension means mounted t pivot on the supportelement about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension meanshaving a portion extending out- Wardly from the support element `andformed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means onsaid support element and operatively associated with said suspensionmeans to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby toyieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milkingapparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

2. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the supportelement about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension meanshaving a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formedto receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on saidsupport element and operatively associated with said suspension means tourge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby toyieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milkingapparatus forwardly of the animal being milked, and means to regulatethe turning urge applied by said yielding means on sa-id suspensionmeans.

3. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, vresilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the supportelement about a substantially vertical axis,

saidv suspension means comprising a resilient rod pivotally mounted, atone end, on and extending, at the other end, outwardly of said supportelement, said rod forming a hook to receive and carry the milkingapparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operativelyassociated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in onedirection on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension memberin a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animalbeing milked.

4. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, means to mount the support element for vertical adjustment at amilking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on thesupport element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspensionmeans having a portion extending outwardly from the support element andformed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means onsaid support element and operatively associated with said suspensionmeans to urge the same normally in one direction on its ,pivot wherebyto yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging themilking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

5. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement at amilking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on thesupport element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspensionmeans having a portion extending outwardly from the support element andformed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding wherebyto yieldingly bias the suspension mem` ber in a direction urging themilking apparatus forwardly oi' the animal being milked.

6. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement andalso for vertical adjustment at a milking station, resilient suspensionmeans mounted to pivot on the support element-about a substantiallyvertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extendingoutwardly from the support' element and formed to receive and carry themilking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element andoperatively associated with said suspension means to urge the samenormally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly.

bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatusforwardly of the animal being milked.

7. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, horizontally movable mounting means for carrying the supportelement at a milking station, means to vertically adjust the supportelement on the mounting means, resilient suspension means mounted topivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, saidsuspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the supportelement and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, andyielding means on said support element and operatively associated withsaid suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on itspivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a directionurging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

8. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the supportelement about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension meanshaving a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formedto receive and carry the milking apparatus, yielding means on saidsupport element and operatively associated with said suspension means tourge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby toyieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milkingapparatus forwardly oi' the animal being milked, and means forregulating the force urging the milking apparatus forwardly.

9. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a supportelement, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement andalso i'or vertical adjustment at a milking station, resilient suspensionmeans mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantiallyvertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extendingoutwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry themilking apparatus, yielding means on said support element andoperatively associated with said suspension means to urge the samenormally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias thesuspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardlyof the animal being milked, and means for regulating the force urgingthe milking apparatus forwardly.

HENRY B. BABSON. JACOB J. STAMPEN.

